Swinging type trailer hitch

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a retractable trailer hitch and more particularly to one having quick release and locking means for placing the hitch in either its tow or store position and includes a housing, a retractable T-bar mounted within the housing, and a pivotal tow plate pivotally mounted near the center of the housing for swinging movement between a tow position and a stored position. The T-handle is spring biased to releasably lock the tow plate in either of its two positions.

United States Patent 11 1 Williams Aug. 7, 1973 SWINGING TYPE TRAILERHITCH 22 Filed: Aug. 25, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 174,817

.lenson 280/491 B Avery 280/491 B Primary Examiner-Leo FriagliaAttorney-Edmund C. Rogers et a1.

{57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a retractable trailer hitch andmore particularly to one having quick release and looking means forplacing the hitch in either its tow or store position and includes ahousing, a retractable T-bar mounted within the housing, and a pivotaltow plate pivotally mounted near the center of the housing for swingingmovementbetween a tow position and a stored position. The T-handle isspring biased to releasably lock the tow plate in either of its twopositions.

17 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures l y lll [52] U.S. Cl 280/491 B [51] Int.Cl B60d 1/06 [58] Field of Search 280/491 R, 491 B [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,849,243 8/1958 Halverson 280/491 B 3,117,8051/1964 Schoeffler 1 280/491 B 2,958,543 11/1960 Cooper et a1. 280/4 91 B3,281,162 10/1966 Carson 280/491 B X PAIENIEUMIG 1W 3.151.072

SHEEI 2 0f 2 nvvENrom GALE/V WILLIAMS;

RTTOE NE Y5 SWINGING TYPE TRAILER HITCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention provides a novel means for releasably locking a retractabletrailer hitch in either a tow or store position. The trailer hitch ofthis invention includes a housing having a tow plate pivotally mountedapproximately midway between the ends of the housing. The tow plate hasupper and lower vertically extending plates which are located justoutside the end of the housing. A T-handle is spring biased within thehousing and includes a shaft extending through the ends of the housing.The T-handle also has studs which extend through holes in the upperextending vertical plate and one end of the housing to lock the towplate in its tow position.

The lower vertically extending plate has an aperture through which theshaft of the T-handle extends when the tow plate is swung to its storeposition, thereby locking the tow plate in that position. One end of thetow plate extends out beyond the vehicle when in the tow position andincludes means for mounting a suitable tow ball. The tow plate is heldlocked in either its tow or store position by action of the spring bias.

By simply pulling the T-handle against its spring bias the tow bar isreleased so that it can be swung to either of tis two positions. Meansare also provided for mounting the hitch assembly to the frame or bumperof a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of thetrailer hitch of this invention shown in its tow position;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the trailer hitch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right end elevational view of the trailer hitch of FIG. 1without the mounting bracket;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 2 showing the T-bar of thisinvention in its retracted position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing the trailer hitch of thisinvention shown in its store position;

FIG. 9is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the trailerhitch in its storerather than tow position; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the T-bar of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring generally toFIGS. 1-7 of the drawing, there is shown the retractable trailer hitch10 of this invention including a housing 12 having a top plate 14, sideplates 16 and 18, and end plates 20 and 22. The

hitch is mounted to a bumper or frame 24 ofa vehicle (not shown) bymeans of a bracket 26 having a horizontal portion 28 secured to the topplate 14 of the hitch by any suitable means such as nut-and-boltassemblies 30, and a vertical portion 32 secured to the bumper of framemember 24 also by any suitable means such as nut-and-bolt assemblies 34.

Mounted about halfway between the ends of side plates 16 and 18, such asby welds 48, are vertical arm members 40 and 42, each having a portionthat extends plate 50 into the holes 44 and 46. In this way the plate 50is allowed to pivot within the holes 44 and 46. The plate 50 has an endportion 52 which extends out beyond the end of the vehicle with a hole53 therein for mounting a suitable tow ball 54.

An upwardly extending vertical plate 60 and a lower extending verticalplate 61 are mounted, such as by welds 62, to the tow plate 50 justoutside the end plate 20 of the housing 12. The upper plate 60 has holes64 and 65 with a U-shaped groove 66 therebetween. The holes 64 and 65are aligned with a pair of holes 68 and 69, respectively, in the endplate 20 of the housing 12,

:and the U-shaped groove 66 is aligned with an aperture 70 in the endplate 20. Located approximately in the center of the lower verticalplate 61 is an aperture 72.

A T-handle (FIG. 10) provides'a releasable locking means for placing thetrailer hitch in either its tow or store position. The T-handle includesahandle member 76 having extending perpendicularly therefrom a shaft 77.On either side of the shaft 77, and parallel to it, are stud members 78and 79. A tubular guide member 81 is mounted inside the housing 12 tothe upper plate 14 such as by welds 83. The end plate 22 of the housing12 has an aperture 85 axially aligned with the tubular member 81 and theaperture 70 in the end plate 20. The T-handle 75 is mounted with itsshaft 77 extending through the aperture 70, guide member 81, andaperture 85. The studs 78 and 79 are aligned such that with the shaft 77so mounted they extend through the holes 64 and 68, and 65 and 69,respectively. A spring 87 is mounted around the shaft 77 between the endwall 20 and a retaining pin 88 and washer 89 to spring bias the T-handle75 so as to hold the studs 78 and 79 in the holes 64 and 68 and 65 and69. In this manner the plate 50 is held locked in the tow position shownin FIGS. 1 through 6.

To place the trailer hitch in its store position, the T- handle 75 ispulled against the bias of the spring 87 such that the studs 78 and 79are completely withdrawn from the holes 64 and 68 and 65 and 69 of theplates 60 and 20. This releases the tow plate 50 so that it can berotated about the pin 51 to a position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Theaperture 72 in the plate 61 is located such that with the plate 50 inits store position, the aperture 72 is aligned with the aperture 85 inthe end plate 22. With the plate 50 in its store position, the T-handle75 is released allowing the shaft 77, under the force of the spring 87,to extend through the apertures 85 and 72, thereby locking the trailerhitch in its store position. I I

A rubber pad 90 is mounted to the upper surface of the plate 50 asviewed from its store position to dampen vibration caused by the plate50 contacting the housing,

Therefore, the trailer hitch of this invention provides are within thescope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appendedhereto.

What is claimed is:

l'. A retractable trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising a housing, aswinging member having one end pivotally mounted to the housing forswinging movement between tow and store position, its other end havingmeans for supporting a tow ball in an upright position with the swingingmember in the tow position, a releasable locking means mounted to thehousing, first and second plates mounted to and extending in oppositedirections from the swinging member, at least the first plate beingmounted to the swinging member a finite distance from the pivot, meansassociated with the releasable locking means for engaging the firstplate when the swinging member is in the tow position to releasably lockthe swinging member in said tow position, means associated with thereleasable locking means for engaging the second plate when the swingingmember is in the store position to releasably lock the swinging memberin said store position, and means for mounting the housing to thevehicle such that the tow ball is positioned for towing with theswinging member in the tow position.

2. The trailer hitch of claim 1 wherein the releasable locking meansincludes a handle means, and means for spring biasing the handle meansto locking engagement with the swinging member in either of its twopositions.

3. The trailer hitch of claim 2 wherein the handle means includes ashaft extending through apertures in opposite ends of the housing, theshaft having a free end, and a stud member on the handle extendingparallel to the shaft, and wherein one of the plates has an aperturethrough which the shaft extends to lock the swinging member in oneposition, and the other of the plates has an aperture through which thestud member extends to lock the swinging member in the other position.

4. The trailer hitch of claim 1 wherein the swinging member is mountedto swing in a vertical are.

5. The trailer hitch of claim 1 wherein the pivoting means include armmembers mounted to each side of the housing about halfway between itsends, each arm member having a portion extending below the lower edge ofthe housing and having a hole therein adjacent the lower edge of thehousing, the holes in the arm members being in axial alignment, theswinging member having a pin at its pivotal end which extends into theholes of the arm members for rotating engagement therewith.

6. The trailer hitch of claim 3 wherein the spring bias ing meansinclude a retaining means mounted to the shaft of the handle meansbetween its ends, and a spring between the retaining means and one endof the housing.

7. The trailer hitch of claim 3 including a guide member mounted to thehousing near the free end of the shaft, the shaft extending through theguide means.

8. The retractable trailer hitchof claim 1 including a rubber padbetween the swinging member and the housing with the hitch in the storeposition.

9. The trailer hitch of claim 1 wherein the plates are parallel to thepivotal axis of the swinging member.

10. A retractable trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising a housing, aswinging member having one end pivotally mounted to the housing forswinging movement between tow and store positions, its other end havingmeans for supporting a tow ball in an upright position with the swingingmember in the tow position, a releasable locking means mounted to thehousing, plate means mounted to the swinging member a finite distancefrom the pivot, means associated with the releasable locking means forengaging the plate means when the swinging member is in the tow positionto releasably lock the swinging member in said tow position, meansassociated with the releasable locking means for engaging the platemeans when the swinging member is in the store position to releasablylock the swinging member in said store position, and means for mountingthe housing to the vehicle such that the tow ball is positioned fortowing with the swinging member in the tow position.

11. A retractable trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising a housing, aswinging member having one end pivotally mounted to the housing forswinging movement between tow and store positions, its other end havingmeans for supporting a tow ball in an upright position with the swingingmember in the tow position, a releasable locking means mounted to thehousing, the releasable locking means including a shaft extendingthrough at least one end of the housing, the shaft having a free end,and a stud member associated with the releasable locking means extendingparallel to the shaft, means associated with the swinging member forengaging the shaft to releasably lock the swinging member in oneposition, means associated with the swinging member for engaging thestud member to releasably lock the swinging member in the otherposition, and means for mounting the housing to the vehicle such thatthe tow ball is positioned for towing with the swinging member in thetow position.

12. The trailer hitch of claim 11 wherein thereleasable locking meansincludes means for spring biasing the releasable locking means tolocking engagement with the swinging member in either of its twopositions.

13. The trailer hitch of claim 12 wherein the spring baising meansinclude a retaining means mounted to the shaft of the releasable lockingmeans, and a spring between the retaining means and one end of the housmg.

14. The trailer hitch of claim 11 including a guide means mounted to thehousing near the free end of the shaft, the'shaft extending through theguide means.

15. The trailer hitch of claim 11 further comprising first and secondplates mounted to and extending in opposite directions from the swingingmember, means associated with one of the plates for engaging the shaftto releasably lock the swinging member in one position, and meansassociated with the other plate for engaging the stud member toreleasably lock the swinging member in the other position.

1'6. The trailer hitch of claim 15 wherein the plates are mounted to theswinging member a distance from its pivot such that the first plate isreleasably locked at one end of the housing with the swinging member inthe tow position, and the second plate is releasably locked at the otherend of the housing with the swinging member in the store position.

17. The trailer hitch of claim 15 wherein the plates are parallel to thepivotal axis of the swinging member. i l i l l

1. A retractable trailer hitch for a vehicle comprising a housing, aswinging member having one end pivotally mounted to the housing forswinging movement between tow and store positions, its other end havingmeans for supporting a tow ball in an upright Position with the swingingmember in the tow position, a releasable locking means mounted to thehousing, first and second plates mounted to and extending in oppositedirections from the swinging member, at least the first plate beingmounted to the swinging member a finite distance from the pivot, meansassociated with the releasable locking means for engaging the firstplate when the swinging member is in the tow position to releasably lockthe swinging member in said tow position, means associated with thereleasable locking means for engaging the second plate when the swingingmember is in the store position to releasably lock the swinging memberin said store position, and means for mounting the housing to thevehicle such that the tow ball is positioned for towing with theswinging member in the tow position.
 2. The trailer hitch of claim 1wherein the releasable locking means includes a handle means, and meansfor spring biasing the handle means to locking engagement with theswinging member in either of its two positions.
 3. The trailer hitch ofclaim 2 wherein the handle means includes a shaft extending throughapertures in opposite ends of the housing, the shaft having a free end,and a stud member on the handle extending parallel to the shaft, andwherein one of the plates has an aperture through which the shaftextends to lock the swinging member in one position, and the other ofthe plates has an aperture through which the stud member extends to lockthe swinging member in the other position.
 4. The trailer hitch of claim1 wherein the swinging member is mounted to swing in a vertical arc. 5.The trailer hitch of claim 1 wherein the pivoting means include armmembers mounted to each side of the housing about halfway between itsends, each arm member having a portion extending below the lower edge ofthe housing and having a hole therein adjacent the lower edge of thehousing, the holes in the arm members being in axial alignment, theswinging member having a pin at its pivotal end which extends into theholes of the arm members for rotating engagement therewith.
 6. Thetrailer hitch of claim 3 wherein the spring biasing means include aretaining means mounted to the shaft of the handle means between itsends, and a spring between the retaining means and one end of thehousing.
 7. The trailer hitch of claim 3 including a guide membermounted to the housing near the free end of the shaft, the shaftextending through the guide means.
 8. The retractable trailer hitch ofclaim 1 including a rubber pad between the swinging member and thehousing with the hitch in the store position.
 9. The trailer hitch ofclaim 1 wherein the plates are parallel to the pivotal axis of theswinging member.
 10. A retractable trailer hitch for a vehiclecomprising a housing, a swinging member having one end pivotally mountedto the housing for swinging movement between tow and store positions,its other end having means for supporting a tow ball in an uprightposition with the swinging member in the tow position, a releasablelocking means mounted to the housing, plate means mounted to theswinging member a finite distance from the pivot, means associated withthe releasable locking means for engaging the plate means when theswinging member is in the tow position to releasably lock the swingingmember in said tow position, means associated with the releasablelocking means for engaging the plate means when the swinging member isin the store position to releasably lock the swinging member in saidstore position, and means for mounting the housing to the vehicle suchthat the tow ball is positioned for towing with the swinging member inthe tow position.
 11. A retractable trailer hitch for a vehiclecomprising a housing, a swinging member having one end pivotally mountedto the housing for swinging movement between tow and store positions,its other end having means for supporting a tow ball in an uprightposition with the swinging member in the tow position, a releasablelocking means mounted to the housing, the releasable locking meansincluding a shaft extending through at least one end of the housing, theshaft having a free end, and a stud member associated with thereleasable locking means extending parallel to the shaft, meansassociated with the swinging member for engaging the shaft to releasablylock the swinging member in one position, means associated with theswinging member for engaging the stud member to releasably lock theswinging member in the other position, and means for mounting thehousing to the vehicle such that the tow ball is positioned for towingwith the swinging member in the tow position.
 12. The trailer hitch ofclaim 11 wherein the releasable locking means includes means for springbiasing the releasable locking means to locking engagement with theswinging member in either of its two positions.
 13. The trailer hitch ofclaim 12 wherein the spring baising means include a retaining meansmounted to the shaft of the releasable locking means, and a springbetween the retaining means and one end of the housing.
 14. The trailerhitch of claim 11 including a guide means mounted to the housing nearthe free end of the shaft, the shaft extending through the guide means.15. The trailer hitch of claim 11 further comprising first and secondplates mounted to and extending in opposite directions from the swingingmember, means associated with one of the plates for engaging the shaftto releasably lock the swinging member in one position, and meansassociated with the other plate for engaging the stud member toreleasably lock the swinging member in the other position.
 16. Thetrailer hitch of claim 15 wherein the plates are mounted to the swingingmember a distance from its pivot such that the first plate is releasablylocked at one end of the housing with the swinging member in the towposition, and the second plate is releasably locked at the other end ofthe housing with the swinging member in the store position.
 17. Thetrailer hitch of claim 15 wherein the plates are parallel to the pivotalaxis of the swinging member.